Adjustable head restraint for an automotive vehicle seat

ABSTRACT

A head restraint system for an automotive vehicle seat includes a post having first and second end portions, a support member fixedly attached to the second end portion of the post, and a head rest assembly. The support member includes a locking feature. The head rest assembly includes a housing supported by the support member, a locking member, and an actuator configured to move the locking member from a locked position with the locking feature to an unlocked position from the locking feature to permit the headrest assembly to move relative to the post and support member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims foreign priority benefits under 35 U.S.C.§119(a)-(d) to DE 10 2008 039 398.3, filed Aug. 22, 2008, which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Vehicle seats may include adjustable head restraints. As an example,U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,434 to Ishida et al. discloses an adjustable headrest device for a vehicle seat. The device includes a head rest body forsupporting the head of an occupant of the seat. The device furtherincludes an adjusting member for adjusting the position of the head restbody with respect to the seat continuously within a defined range ofmovement.

As another example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,316,455 to Metz et al. discloses alocking device and a headrest. The locking device includes springelements which can be engaged in at least one locking position. Thelocking device can be displaced in relation to at least two retainingbars that have a number of recesses. The spring elements co-operate withthe recesses in such a way that engagement of the spring elements intheir locking position locks the locking device in relation to theretaining bars. The spring elements are configured in such as way thatthe retaining bars are locked by the mechanical fixing of the springelements in their central zone or by exertion of a force on the springelements in their central zone.

SUMMARY

A head restraint system for an automotive vehicle seat includes a posthaving first and second end portions. The first end portion is capableof being attached to the seat. The system also includes a support memberfixedly attached to the second end portion of the post, and a head restassembly. The support member includes a locking feature. The head restassembly includes a housing supported by the support member, a lockingmember and an actuator configured to move the locking member from alocked position with the locking feature to an unlocked position fromthe locking feature to permit the headrest assembly to move relative tothe post and support member.

An automotive vehicle seat includes a seat back and a post having firstand second end portions. The first end portion is fixedly attached tothe seat back. The seat also includes a structural member fixedlyattached to the second end portion of the post, and a head restassembly. The head rest assembly includes a housing supported by thestructural member, and an engagement member. The structural memberincludes a portion configured to receive the engagement member and hasan engagement feature disposed therein. The head rest assembly alsoincludes an actuator configured to move the engagement member from anengaged position with the engagement feature to a disengaged positionfrom the engagement feature to permit the housing, engagement member andactuator to move relative to the post and structural member.

A head restraint system for an automotive vehicle seat includes a guidemember having first and second end portions. The first end portion iscapable of being fixedly attached to the seat. The system also includesa support member fixedly attached to the second end portion of the guidemember, a retention member carried by the support member, and a headrest assembly. The head rest assembly includes a notched shaftconfigured to be retained by the retention member, and an actuatorconfigured to rotate the notched shaft relative to the retention memberto permit the headrest assembly to move relative to the post and supportmember.

While example embodiments in accordance with the invention areillustrated and disclosed, such disclosure should not be construed tolimit the invention. It is anticipated that various modifications andalternative designs may be made without departing from the scope of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of an automotive vehicle seatincluding an adjustable head restraint according to an embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the adjustable head restraint of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an assembly view of the adjustable head restraint of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the adjustable head restraintof FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of a portion of the head restraint of FIG. 1;and

FIG. 6 is another bottom view of the portion of the head restraint ofFIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, an automotive vehicle seat 10 includes a headrest 12 and a seat back 14. The head rest 12 is coupled to the seat back14 via a post 16. The post 16 may be attached with the seat back 14 inany suitable fashion. For example, the post 16 may be fastened orotherwise fixedly attached to a frame (not shown) of the seat back 14.The post 16 may also be movably attached with the frame. Otherarrangements are also possible. As discussed in more detail below, thehead rest 12 is movable relative to post 16 and thus the seat back 14.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the head rest 12 may include a tray 18,button actuator 20, sleeve 22 and collar 24. The head rest 12 may alsoinclude a column member 26, coil spring 28 and housing 30. The tray 18may include a post receiving portion 32, female locator 33, coil springlocator 34, actuator guide 35, column locator 36 and retention features37. The sleeve 22 may include a male protrusion 38 and the postreceiving portion 32 may include a female receiving portion 40. Thecollar 24 may include male locators 41 (on the top and bottom, asillustrated, of the collar 24). With reference to the above and belowdescribed elements, however, other and/or different components may alsobe used.

The sleeve 22 may be disposed within the post receiving portion 32 andlocated relative to the post receiving portion 32 via the maleprotrusion 38 and female receiving portion 40. The sleeve 22 may beconfigured to and/or comprise a material, e.g., plastic, thatfacilitates the movement of the head rest 12 relative to the post 16.

The column member 26 may include a recessed portion 42, column locatorreceiving portion (not shown), e.g., an aperture, adjacent the recessedportion 42, a plurality of notches 44 disposed axially along the columnmember 26, raised portion 46 also disposed axially along the columnmember 26 and top portion 47. The button actuator 20 may include abutton 48, end portion 50 and coil spring locator 52.

The column member 26 may be located relative to (and be carried by) thetray 18 via the column locator 36 and column locator receiving portion(not shown). In the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3, the column member 26 ispositioned generally parallel to and spaced away from the post 16. Inother embodiments, however, the column member 26 may have any suitableorientation and/or position relative to the post 16. Additionally, thecolumn member 26 may take any desired shape and/or form.

The button actuator 20 may also be carried by the tray 18 and arrangedsuch that the end portion 50 of the button actuator 20 is operativelyengaged with the recessed portion 42 of the column member 26. The coilspring 28 may further be located between the coil spring locators 34, 52of the tray 18 and actuator button 20 respectively. As discussed below,the button 48 may be pushed by an occupant of the vehicle seat 10 torotate the column member 26 about the column locator 36. The actuatorguide 35 may guide the actuator button 20 as it travels relative to thetray 18.

A structural member 54 includes a post receiving portion 56, clip slots58, column member receiving portion 60 and spring slot 62. Thestructural member 54 may fit over an end of (and be fixed to) the post16 via clips 64. In the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3, retainer clips 64are inserted into the clip slots 58 and clip receivers 66 of the post16. The retainer clips 64 anchor the structural member 54 to the post16. The structural member 54, however, may be attached to the post 16 inany suitable fashion. For example, the structural member 54 may bebolted to the post 16.

The top portion 47 of the column member 26 may be inserted into thecolumn member receiving portion 60. A spring clip 68 may be insertedinto the spring slot 62. As discussed below, the spring clip 68 mayengage the notches 44 of the column member 26 to hold the head rest 12in place relative to the post 16 and structural member 54. The springclip 68 may also be disengaged from the notches 44 to allow the headrest 12 to move relative to the post 16 and structural member 54. Inother embodiments, however, any suitable locking and/or retentionarrangement may be used. As an example, the column member 26 may includea plurality of protrusions disposed axially along the column member 26.These protrusions may be received by a suitable aperture disposed withinthe column member receiving portion 60. As another example, the columnmember receiving portion 60 may include a spring loaded button that mayengage a suitable aperture in the column member 26. A lever coupled withthe housing 30 may be operatively arranged to retract the spring loadedbutton such that it disengages the column member 26, thus allowing it tomove.

The housing 30 includes a female locator 70 and retention receivingfeatures 72. The collar 24 may be located relative to the tray 18 andhousing 30 via the male locators 41 and the female locators 33, 70. Thecollar 24 positions the button 48 relative to the housing 30. Thehousing 30 may be placed over the above mentioned components and securedto the tray 18 via the retention features 37 and the retention receivingfeatures 72. The structural member 54 thus provides support for thehousing 30.

Of course, FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate but one embodiment. Otherconfigurations are also possible. As an example, the arrangementillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 may be inverted such that the structuralmember 54 may be fastened to the post 16 below the tray 18 and the pushbutton 48 may be located near the top of the housing 30. As anotherexample, more than one post 16, e.g., two spaced apart posts, may beused. Two column members 26 (one for each post) and associatedcomponents may also be used.

Similarly, the components described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 mayalso take various forms and certain of them may be omitted. As anexample, an actuator, e.g., a lever, may be operatively associated withthe column member receiving portion 60. Pressing the actuator maydisengage a lock from a sliding member connecting the tray 18 and thestructural member 54, such as the column member 26. As yet anotherexample, the column member 26 may be spring loaded via an internal coilspring. As the column member 26 rotates, the internal coil spring maystore energy that will later assist in returning it to its initialposition. The structural member 54 may include a protrusion that engagesthe column member 26 in such configurations.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the spring clip 68 may be U-shaped and span thethickness of the column member 26. The spring clip 68 may include a reararm 74 and a front arm 76. As illustrated, the rear arm 74 is disposedbehind the column member 26 and the front arm 76 is disposed in front ofthe column member 26 and engaged with one of the recesses 44 of thecolumn member 26. As mentioned above, the button 48 may be pressed torotate the column member 26 about the column locator 36 illustrated inFIG. 2. As the column member 26 rotates, the raised portion 46 of thecolumn member 26 makes contact with the front arm 76 of the spring clip68 and lifts the front arm 76 out of the recess 44. Once disengaged fromthe front arm 76, the column member 26 (and thus the head rest 12) maymove relative to the post 16 and structural member 54.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the button actuator 20, as illustrated, is inthe un-pressed position. The coil spring 28 is extended and the frontarm 76 of the spring clip 68 is engaged with a notch (not shown) of thecolumn member 26. As mentioned above, the spring clip 68 is U-shapedwhen the button actuator 20 is un-pressed.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the button actuator 20, as illustrated, is inthe pressed position. The coil spring 28 is compressed and thus exerts aforce generally opposite the pressing direction. The column member 26has rotated clockwise permitting the raised portion 46 of the columnmember 26 to raise the front arm 76 of the spring clip 68 thusdisengaging the spring clip 68 from the notch (not shown). In thisposition, the height of the head rest 12 may be adjusted relative to theseat back 14 illustrated in FIG. 1.

In the absence of a force pressing the button 48, the coil spring 28will drive the button actuator 20 back to the un-pressed positionillustrated in FIG. 5. As the button actuator 20 returns to theun-pressed position, the spring clip 68, which was deformed by therotation of the column member 26, will exert a force on the raisedportion 46 of the column member 26 prompting the column member 26 torotate counter-clockwise until the spring clip 68 returns to itsun-deformed position and reengages one of the notches 44 of the columnmember 26 thus securing the head rest 12 relative to the post 16 andstructural member 54 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

While example embodiments in accordance with the invention areillustrated and disclosed, such disclosure should not be construed tolimit the invention. It is anticipated that various modifications andalternative designs may be made without departing from the scope of theinvention.

1. A head restraint system for an automotive vehicle seat comprising: nomore than one post having first and second end portions, the first endportion capable of being attached to the seat; a support member fixedlyattached to the second end portion of the post and including a lockingfeature; and a head rest assembly configured to receive the supportmember and second end portion of the post and including (i) a housingsupported by the support member, (ii) a locking member and (iii) anactuator configured to move the locking member from a locked positionwith the locking feature to an unlocked position from the lockingfeature to permit the headrest assembly to move along the post relativeto the support member.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the lockingmember comprises a shaft having a plurality of notches formed therein.3. The system of claim 2 wherein the locking feature comprises a clipspring configured to engage at least one of the notches when the shaftis in the locked position.
 4. The system of claim 2 wherein the shaft isdisposed generally parallel to, and spaced away from, the post.
 5. Thesystem of claim 1 wherein the actuator is configured to rotate thelocking member from the locked position to the unlocked position.
 6. Thesystem of claim 5 further comprising a coil spring configured to resistmovement of the actuator.
 7. The system of claim 1 wherein the head restassembly further includes a tray portion configured to carry at leastone of the locking member and actuator.
 8. The system of claim 1 whereinthe actuator comprises a push button.
 9. An automotive vehicle seatcomprising: a seat back; no more than one post having first and secondend portions, the first end portion fixedly attached to the seat back; astructural member fixedly attached to the second end portion of thepost; and a head rest assembly configured to receive the structuralmember and second end portion of the post and including (i) a housingsupported by the structural member, (ii) an engagement member, thestructural member including a portion configured to receive theengagement member and having an engagement feature disposed therein and(iii) an actuator configured to move the engagement member from anengaged position with the engagement feature to a disengaged positionfrom the engagement feature to permit the housing, engagement member andactuator to move along the post and relative to the structural member.10. The system of claim 9 wherein the engagement member comprises ashaft having a plurality of notches formed therein.
 11. The system ofclaim 10 wherein the engagement feature comprises a spring clipconfigured to engage at least one of the notches when the shaft is inthe locked position.
 12. The system of claim 10 wherein the shaft isdisposed generally parallel to, and spaced away from, the post.
 13. Thesystem of claim 9 wherein the actuator is configured to rotate theengagement member from the locked position to the unlocked position. 14.The system of claim 13 further comprising a coil spring configured toresist movement of the actuator.
 15. The system of claim 9 wherein thehead rest assembly further includes a tray portion configured to carryat least one of the engagement member and actuator.
 16. The system ofclaim 9 wherein the actuator comprises a push button.
 17. A headrestraint system for an automotive vehicle seat comprising: no more thanone guide member having first and second end portions, the first endportion capable of being fixedly attached to the seat; a support memberfixedly attached to the second end portion of the guide member; aretention member carried by the support member; and a head rest assemblyconfigured to receive the support member and second end portion of theguide member and including a notched shaft configured to be retained bythe retention member and an actuator configured to rotate the notchedshaft relative to the retention member to permit the headrest assemblyto move along the guide member and relative to the support member. 18.The system of claim 17 further comprising a coil spring configured toresist movement of the actuator.
 19. The system of claim 17 wherein theshaft is disposed generally parallel to, and spaced away from, the guidemember.